Mariachi San Marcos is a family-based ensemble rooted in Bakersfield, California, with origins in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Founded by the Laris family—originally siblings performing together under the guidance of their father—the group takes its name from the renowned Feria de San Marcos, an iconic cultural event in their hometown. After migrating to California in the early 1990s, the family reestablished the group in the Central Valley, where it continues to perform and teach, carrying forward a deep tradition of mariachi music across generations.

According to the director, Mauro Laris, the group strives to preserve the most traditional elements of mariachi practice—its instrumentation, repertoire, and visual presentation. While adapting to new performance settings in the United States, Mariachi San Marcos has remained committed to the cultural and musical values passed down from their ancestors. The ensemble often performs with full traditional attire and recently incorporated a harp into its instrumentation, enriching its sound while maintaining authenticity. Their role has not been just to perform, but also to prolong the tradition as a legacy.

Marilyn Rodríguez, a third-generation mariachi from Bakersfield, began performing with her cousins and siblings in youth groups inspired by her father and grandfather. As children, they learned violin and vocals from older relatives and mentors like Juan Morales and Jesús “Chuy” Guzmán, who tailored arrangements specifically for their group. Their first major performance was at a Radio Bilingüe event for the Mariachi Festival. Over time, they performed with top-tier groups, including Mariachi Vargas and Mariachi Los Camperos, bringing visibility to young mariachi musicians in a region where such ensembles were rare.

The group’s presence in Bakersfield offers a living example of how mariachi remains a space for community storytelling, intergenerational mentorship, and the assertion of cultural identity. This story page highlights the experiences of Mauro Laris and Marilyn Rodríguez, whose journeys reflect the enduring role of family-based ensembles in sustaining musical heritage and reshaping public life in the Central Valley through mariachi.